I have had four grommets installed in the past three years in my left ear. It all started with an ignored massive sinus infection resulting in ETD. All four have been followed by the horrendous whooshing noise. Some had to come out in weeks due to my inability to sleep with this noise. One lasted nine months before it began. At 70 years of age, my choice seems to be the cycle of grommet in and grommet out or deafness in that ear. Not fond of deafness. However, placement and removal with only local anesthesia is no big deal. Peace.
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Hi there, I was wondering how your symptoms are now? I had a grommet fitted in the left ear yesterday as the ENT thought that it would help my Eustachian tube after a terrible cold I had 2 years ago! As soon as I woke up the ear feels like I’m under water now, I’m in a panic that I’ve made things worse now! If I blow my nose it sounds and feels like hot air gushing through, all very strange! I feel so muffled in that ear now! Will it get better??? I’d love to know how your symptoms are now, I know it’s early days for me but I do panic!
Hayley x
Hayley x
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Hi there, I was wondering how your symptoms are now? I had a grommet fitted in the left ear yesterday as the ENT thought that it would help my Eustachian tube after a terrible cold I had 2 years ago! As soon as I woke up the ear feels like I’m under water now, I’m in a panic that I’ve made things worse now! If I blow my nose it sounds and feels like hot air gushing through, all very strange! I feel so muffled in that ear now! Will it get better??? I’d love to know how your symptoms are now, I know it’s early days for me but I do panic!
Hayley x
Hayley x
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Have things got better since removing it? I had mine fitted yesterday, I know I’m impatient but the cotton wool and muffled feeling along with pulsing in my ear is driving me crazy! I blow my nose and hot air shoots through the ear, is this all normal? I gently pop my ears to try to make it better but worry I’m causing damage, it’s a nightmare!
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It’s been 3 weeks since I had grommets, the fullness of ears was there but it’s reduced a lot but my tinnitus had increased and at time I hear whooshing. Does it go away? I don’t want the tinnitus to be permanent? I got my hearing tested and it’s completely fine.
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Hello, are you symptoms any better? I have the same symptoms along with tinnitus. Does it get better?
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Did yours heal? I have regular tinnitus and I am hoping once the grommets come out they’ll go?
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For anyone still wondering about being deaf after grommets or whoosing sound in ear yeah its normal I still get tinnititus once in a while the deafness will go away after a month or so and if you get tinnititus randomly you might be struggling with blood pressure docters love saying "oh it means you have hearing loss blah blah blah" I have had my hearing tested more than 5 times and each time it is the same Above average it can also be turbulent blood flow or inflammed blood vessels there is many reasons behind it if it is not permanent dont worry if it gets worse see a doctor You might have ear infection
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UPDATE... I have had this last grommet in my left year for a year now. That is the longest time by far. The whooshing relented a month or so after insertion last April. The use of white-noise devices got me through that period. So, yes, it does stop eventually. I have had tinnitus for decades so I can't judge if this could cause that. I have read extensively that it can. Frankly, at this point, I hope that when this tube falls out the ear drum stays perforated permanently. Not likely but it could happen. My ENT thinks it would be the best outcome. The tubes, on average, fall out on their own in 12 to 18 months. I do suffer now from "tin ear" in noisy environments such as crowded restaurants with music or lousy acoustics. Is that the way it is due to the tube or permanent? Time will tell. Also, when the tube falls out will the ETD return? Likely. In my case it is likely to be a tube-in, tube-out routine. But then I am 71 so ...
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I am 40yrs old. Had combined surgery (septoplasty and grommet insertion) on the 4th of October 2022. Today is the 31st of October 2022 and my ear is not good yet. It started off with a lot of pressure in and around the ear, pain and muffled hearing. This was followed by wooshing and buzzing sounds which woud go on and off. Now it's 3 and half weeks after the procedure but still the ear has not opened yet. The pressure and pain in my ear has reduced by about 50% but muffled hearing is still on and the ear feels clogged.
I have been douching my nose twice a day since the day i was discharged (day after surgery) up to now. The clots that used to come out of my nose had reduced by 99% but today i was shocked to see lumpy clots coming out i had to pull out the biggest one which seemed to have been stuck up my nose and would not come out with the gentle blowing of my nose. After it came out i must say i am breathing better today and the feeling of my own voice in my head has also reduced. However, my left nostril still feels a bit clogged together with the left ear which was operated on and a grommet was inserted in it. It appears the journey to recovery is longer than i anticipated. 12 years ago i had grommets inserted and i came out of the recovery room with clear hearing which was actually on the loud side. Perhaps age also impacts on the healing/recovery time.
My ENT advised that once my sinuses have healed then the ear will gradually open. I wish more had been explained before the surgery because at some point i suffered depression due to the ear pressure, clogging and muffled hearing. My right ear which was not operated on also picked on serious vibrations when huge trucks passed by while my left ear felt noises like a broken speaker.
I am still hopeful that all will be well. Review is tomorrow the 1st of November 2022.
You are not alone.
I have been douching my nose twice a day since the day i was discharged (day after surgery) up to now. The clots that used to come out of my nose had reduced by 99% but today i was shocked to see lumpy clots coming out i had to pull out the biggest one which seemed to have been stuck up my nose and would not come out with the gentle blowing of my nose. After it came out i must say i am breathing better today and the feeling of my own voice in my head has also reduced. However, my left nostril still feels a bit clogged together with the left ear which was operated on and a grommet was inserted in it. It appears the journey to recovery is longer than i anticipated. 12 years ago i had grommets inserted and i came out of the recovery room with clear hearing which was actually on the loud side. Perhaps age also impacts on the healing/recovery time.
My ENT advised that once my sinuses have healed then the ear will gradually open. I wish more had been explained before the surgery because at some point i suffered depression due to the ear pressure, clogging and muffled hearing. My right ear which was not operated on also picked on serious vibrations when huge trucks passed by while my left ear felt noises like a broken speaker.
I am still hopeful that all will be well. Review is tomorrow the 1st of November 2022.
You are not alone.
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Health Hero
1626 posts
After grommet surgery, it is common to experience some pain, ear blockage, and reduced hearing in the first few days. However, these symptoms usually resolve within a week or two as the ears begin to heal.
In some cases, it is possible to experience ongoing symptoms, such as persistent ear blockage or reduced hearing, for several weeks or even months after grommet surgery. This may be due to inflammation or fluid buildup in the middle ear, or due to an infection.
You can try using over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to manage any pain or discomfort. You can also try using a warm compress or taking a warm shower to help ease any ear blockage or pressure. Avoid getting water in your ears until your doctor gives you the go-ahead, as this can increase the risk of infection.
Good luck!
In some cases, it is possible to experience ongoing symptoms, such as persistent ear blockage or reduced hearing, for several weeks or even months after grommet surgery. This may be due to inflammation or fluid buildup in the middle ear, or due to an infection.
You can try using over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to manage any pain or discomfort. You can also try using a warm compress or taking a warm shower to help ease any ear blockage or pressure. Avoid getting water in your ears until your doctor gives you the go-ahead, as this can increase the risk of infection.
Good luck!
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I had a grommit placed over a year ago and I have had nothing but problem after problem after problem. I have otosclerosis in both ears and i have had an operation on my right ear, this improved my hearing massively then i developed this pressure feeling, bad tinitus and horrendous noises in my ears, they told me i have a eustachian tube problem, which did not help atall and then they inserted a grommit. I am hard of hearing anyway and this has massively reduced my hearing more. 6-8 month waiting list to be seen at ENT again, as i now feel i need a hearing aid. Worst feeling ever
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I gad grommets inserted yesterday but had a local anaesthetic. Have to say the painkiller they put in was uncomfortable briefly and I did feel some of the insertion but it was bearable.
A bit muffled at present.
A bit muffled at present.
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I had grommets put in 3 months ago privately. Went very muffled/deaf… bilateral pulsatile tinnitus 24/7. Surgeon ssid he was surprised. I have just seen an nhs surgeon who said they must come out asap so have a date in two weeks. If the eardrums don’t heal after two months he will do a skin graft on them. My life has been hell for 3 months. Has made me withdrawn/anxious/worried…. There is no guarantee i will ever get back to ‘normal’ even when thr grommets come out. I was much better before this
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